Play pen



F. R. FISCHER PLAY PEN March 13, 1934.

Original Filed May 16, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l FREDE/:f/c/f 1Q. 55C/1ER l Inventor By 11mm @mais Attorney March 13, 1934. F, R, F|$HER 1,950,603

PLAY PEN Original Filed May 16. 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Harney Fatented Mar. 13, 1934 aan PLAY PEN .s Frederick R. Fischer. Spokane, Wash.

Application May 16, 1931, Serial No. 537,953 Renewed July 24, 1933 My present invention relates to an improved play pen of the portable, collapsible, convertible type, and designed especially for use-by children, to provide a safe enclosure in which a child may play, and in addition the pen may be converted for use as a bed or cot in which the child may take a nap while surrounded with all necessary safeguards. The play pen is particularly adapted for outdoor use and is equipped with bottom and side walls as a protection against intrusion of dogs, cats, and creeping insects or other animal life of that nature.

In carrying out my invention I provide a ilexible enclosure having bottom and side walls of flexible material, as canvas, and a collapsible, foldable frame, exterior of the enclosure is employed to retain the side walls in upright position. 'Ihe enclosure and its frame are separable, and these two members may each be folded or compacted into comparatively small compass for storage or shipping purposes. Means are provided whereby the upper, free edges of the walls of the enclosure may be reefcd and secured in such condition for the purpose of reducing the height of the enclosure, and means are provided for suspending an elevated bottom, or false bottom at a suitable height from the permanent bottom of the enclosure in order that the pen may be converted for use as a bed or cot.

While I have referred to the equipment as designed for use of infants and children, it will be apparent that the enclosure is adapted for use -by adults and others in taking sun baths while protected from wind as well as while protected from exposure to view of outsiders.

The invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangements of parts as will hereinafter be more fully set forth and claimed. In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of my invention wherein the parts are combined and arranged according to the best mode I have thus far devised for the practical application of the principles of my invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the play pen of my invention in position for use, and indicating by dotted lines the use of the false bottom on which'a mattress may be supported for use as a cot or bed.

Figure 2 is a view of the frame collapsed and folded to compact form, as when not in use, and showing by dotted lines the frame in extended position, as when supporting the enclosure.

Figure 3 is an end view of the play pen, showing the upper free edges of the upright walls reefed, and frame members the height of the pen.

Figure .4 is an enlarged view of one of the foldable link-braces.

Figure 5 is a detail view of part of one of the corner posts with its slide collar. and links of the lazy-tong brace pivoted thereon.

Figure 6 is a detail View showing the upper end of one of the telescopic posts with the retaining pin in position to hold the parts extended.

Figure 7. is a horizontal sectional view showing loop-forming tabs secured to the enclosure and secured by snap fasteners around a post.

Figure 8 is a detail sectional view at the top of one of the posts showing the post fitted in a socket at the free edge or top of the enclosure.

Figure 9 is an exterior view at the upper edge of the enclosure showing a hem or casing, between posts, in which a semi-rigid core or reinforcing rope is enclosed.

Figure 10 is a sectional detail view at the bottom of one of the tubular posts showing the foot secured therein.

Figure 11 is a detail perspective view at an upper corner of the pen showing fastening means for one of the drop-sides.

In carrying out my invention I utilize a bag or enclosure of suitable size and shape, and -of appropriate material, such as canvas, and in the drawings the rectangular enclosure is fashioned with a bottom l, two end walls 2, 2, and two long sides as 3 and 4. One -or more of the walls is equipped with a drop edge, as 5,

retracted, to reduce which is fashioned by slitting or slotting the two y adjoining corners of the enclosure as at 6, and this drop edge is fashioned at its ends with fastening tabs 7 and snap fasteners 8 for attachment to the angular walls of the enclosure, as seen in Figures 1 and 11.

Around the upper edges of the enclosure a casing 9 is formed by folding over and stitching the edges to the wall, and the corners of the enclosure, as well as intermediate parts of the casing, are fashioned into sockets 10. 'Ihe material of which the enclosure is formed, the slots, the casings and the sockets, are all stitched or otherwise fastened together to insure a durable structure, and the enclosure is separably supported by and fastened to an exterior frame with suiiicient rigidity to support the flexible enclosure in upright position indicated in Figure 1.

The upper free edges of the walls of the enclosure are reinforced or strengthened by the use of rope-sections l1 that are encased in the casings 9. and these ropes, or other semi-rigid reinforcements, as shown, are spaced' between adjoining sockets, in order 'that the enclosure, when knocked down, may be folded into compact form, the lines .of the folds occurring, of course, at the socket portions of the casing.

The enclosure is suspended, with its bottom resting lightly on the ground, or on a floor, within a separable, collapsible, foldable, exterior frame, which when not in use may be closely compacted as indicated in full lines in Figure 2 for storing or shipping, and which may with facility be extended or expanded into rectangular shape to support the enclosure, as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 2.

The frame includes a number of telescopic posts, here shown as four at the corners, two intermediate end posts, and four intermediate side posts, all of similar construction, and each comprising atubular, bottom bar or leg 12, having a foot 13 secured byv its shank 14 within the lower end of the tubular leg. An upper rod l5 telescopes within the tubular leg, and a cotter pin 16, which passes through registering holes in the telescoping elements, is used to hold the rod in extended position as indicated in Figure 1, and Figure 6 especially.

As will be apparent from an inspection of Figures 1 and'9 the upper ends of the rods of the posts flt into corresponding sockets 10 of the enclosure, and by means of lthis arrangement of sockets and rods, the enclosure is suspended within'the frame.

Around the exterior of the bottom of the enclosure are arranged pairs of tabs 17, stitched to the enclosure, and adapted to overlap and form retaining loops around the posts, and snap fasteners 8 are` provided on the free ends of these tabs to fasten together the free ends of the tabs and form the retaining loops about the posts, thereby securing the bottom portion of the enclosure to the posts.

The groups of posts at the sides and ends of the enclosure are laterally braced in upright position, and the corner posts are also braced by and 22 that surround the posts.

lazy-tong braces which include crossed links as 18 and 19, pivoted together at 20, and the ends of the crossed links are pivoted tocollars 21 I'he lower or bottom collars 21 are permanently fixed to the posts, but the upper collars 22 are slidable on the posts, their upward sliding movement being limited by the caps 23 on the tops of the tubular legs. Thus, after the snap fasteners have been released, and the enclosure lifted from the rods 15, the frame may be collapsed or folded, as indicated in Figure 2 at the left for storing or shipping.

To hold the fame in extended position, and against accidental collapse, I employ four jackknife braces, or pairs of link-latches each comprising links 24 and 25 pivoted together at 26, and pivoted at their ends 27 and 28 either to the lazy-tongs, or to, two adjoining posts. One of the links as 25 is provided with a detent 29 that fits into a notch 30 in the other link, as best seen in Figure 4, to retain the links in extended position for bracing the frame, and by tapping on the under edge of the links, at their pivotal joint 26, it will be apparent these link-latches may be opened, as indicated by dotted lines Figure 4 to permit folding of the frame.

Inv Figure 1 a false bottom is indicated by dotted lines. at 31, to receive a mattress which may rest thereon to form a bed or cot. The false bottom is of rectangular shape and is provided with strings 32 which are passed through sms as, spaced at the sides of the pos ,fnd the strings are tied together, around thel `"'sts, abovel the collars 22 for stretching and supporting the falsebottom in horizontal position.

In Figure 3, the rods 15 have been telescoped in the tubular legs 12 a suillcient distance to permit the upper edge -of the casing to be reefed, thereby reducing the height of the walls of the enclosure, and yet properly supporting the reefed upper edge of the enclosure through the use of the sockets on the rods. With this reduced height of the enclosure-walls the youngster in the pen may be permitted to view the outside world, and yet be protected.

By first releasing the snaps 8 and naps or tabs 7 at the two corners, the drop-side ord'rop-wall 5`may be released from the rods and permitted to drop down at one side to permit easy access to the `interior of the enclosure.

By dotted lines in Figure 3, a pocket is indi- 'cated at 34, stitched against the inner side of the ind wall 2 in which toys, playthings, etc. may be ept.

As heretofore stated the equipment may be utilized for various purposes other thanA for a play pen, and the equipment is designed for both outdoor and indoor use. The size and shape of various parts and the material employed, may be varied, and changes may be made in the exemplified structure, within the scope of my claims, without departing from the principles of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a frame including spaced posts, of a flexible inclosure having sockets suspended on said posts, said enclosure having sectional casings in its walls, reinforcing cores secured in said sectional casings, one of said walls having a drop-flap, and means for securing the ends of said flap to a pair of spaced posts. 7

2. The combination with a series of spaced posts, of a separable flexible enclosure having sockets for suspending the enclosure on said posts,

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said enclosure having slits adjacent the posts, an

elevated bottom of flexible material within the enclosure, tie cords xed to the bottom and tied through the slits to the posts, means for bracing adjoining posts, and fastening devices for securing the lower portion of the enclosure to said posts.

3. The combination in a play-pen with an exterior frame including supporting posts, of 'a flexible enclosure constituting a wall for-the pen and having a folded upper edge forming a casing, means located at spaced intervals and fastening the casing to the wall of the pen to form vertically arranged'sockets, said sockets fitted over the upper ends of the posts, and means for detachably fastening the body of the enclosure to said frame.

FREDERICK R. FISCHER. 

